Issue 70
BREAKING NEWS
» Based on what we saw during the hearing today, NPHC cannot support Dr. Schwartz’s nomination. Read our statement.
» Good luck on our public health. Dr. Erica Schwartz faces questions about vaccines at CDC director confirmation hearing | ABC News
» Understatement of the FY. CDC emails reveal challenges facing its next director | NPR
» He just doesn’t give up. Inside RFK Jr.’s push to dismantle decades of U.S. vaccine policy | Reuters
» Mind the gaps. The gaps in CDC’s public health data are creating dangerous blind spots | The Washington Post
» Remember COVID-19? Lab-Leak Payback Has Begun | The Atlantic
» 2nd American infected with Ebola in DRC evacuated to Germany, WHO chief says | ABC News
» NPHC issued an official public comment on the proposed OMB rule.
Welcome to the 70th issue of Fired But Fighting, a newsletter for illegally terminated, improperly RIF’d, chaotically reinstated, and current HHS staff. Read on for judicial and advocacy updates, links to media coverage, calls to action, tips, and resources.
Please consider supporting us by making a donation, grabbing some FBF merch (www.firedbutfighting.org/shop), signing up to volunteer, or subscribing to the NationalPHC Substack. You can also check out the FBF Talent Marketplace to support a fired fed.
NEW Summer Merch
Visit www.firedbutfighting.org/newsletter-library to read this and previous issues of the newsletter on the web.
LEGAL UPDATES
» The FBF Legal Team is taking off this week. The next legal update will be on July 21. You can read the most recent legal update here.
CALLS TO ACTION
The Missing Badge
For those in the DC area: Please consider coming out to this event hosted by AFGE L1534 to support our fellow State Department colleagues who were RIF’d.
ATTN DC Metro Spoons
» Saturday, July 18 at 10am. DC area Spoons: consider attending Restore, a day of grounding & care for public servants navigating prolonged stress, uncertainty, and the emotional demands of public service. See flyer for details. Register here.
» Volunteer with Fired But Fighting: Looking for ways to channel your rage? Sign up to volunteer.
EVENTS
» 🥄COMING SOON: GROUP SPOON TATTOOS. Stay tuned.
» Don’t forget to keep an eye on FBF’s events page for updates between newsletters.
CAREER CORNER
» This week’s Career Corner is packed: a special event with Senator Tim Kaine, a day of grounding with our wellfed friends, and an updated 🔥🔥 hot jobs 🔥🔥section. Check it out.
» Join the Opportunities for Former HHS Staff and follow Fired But Fighting on LinkedIn to stay current on career-related events.
UNION CORNER
» FEHB Family Member Audit: As part of OPM's stated effort to reduce fraudulent FEHB enrollment, some CDC and ATSDR employees received an email about an audit of 2025 FEHB family member eligibility. At this time, L2883 recommends that all employees comply with the stated request for documents to ensure you do not experience a lapse in insurance coverage. Provide the requested documentation by replying to the original email before the deadline. HHS has advised employees that they can redact PII (e.g., social security numbers) from the documents and send the email as “restricted.” We remain deeply disappointed in the carelessness in handling sensitive employee data and will continue to work with the agency to hopefully identify a more secure means of providing these documents during future audits.
» Call to Action: Comments Needed: OPM has introduced new proposed changes to the Code of Federal Regulations to make it easier to remove employees. We encourage all members to read the proposed rule, “Promoting Employee Accountability,” and submit a public comment outlining your concerns about these changes.
» Join AFGE L2883! If you’re not already a member, sign up to join the fight now. As a reminder, all job series (including supervisors) are eligible to join. The only exception is Commissioned Corps officers. https://join.afge.org/L2883
CDC MUTUAL AID
Ice Cream for a Cause
» On July 20, come to the CDC 80th Birthday Ice Cream Social fundraiser at the Decatur Square Jeni's Ice Cream. 25% of the proceeds will benefit the CDC Mutual Aid Fund.
» While you’re there, pick up a rose pin to wear on 8/8.
» Follow CDC Mutual Aid Network on social media:
THE WEEKLY NEEDLE
» The Weekly Needle is America’s most trusted news source for all things health and medicine. Enjoy our most recent story from this week:
» CDC Staff In Emotional Disarray After Hearing News that Jay Bhattacharya is Not Actually the Acting CDC Director. “I cried all night into my Jay [Bhattacharya] body pillow,” claimed one employee.
» Please consider becoming a subscriber by following the link here. Interested in contributing? Email us at theweeklyneedle@proton.me.
FIRED AND THRIVING
» After being terminated for taking a promotion (probationary status) as a health communication specialist at the CDC, Suraj Arshanapally started the Communicator’s Guide to Social Impact Substack to remind himself why he loved the field of health communication. Seeing many of his health communication colleagues lose their jobs as well, he recognized the importance of preserving institutional knowledge within the field. He focuses on interviewing communicators, conducting roundups of the latest campaigns, and sharing insights.
» Through his newsletter series, “Stories from CDC Communicators,” he documents the reflections, insights, and expertise of former CDC communication professionals from their time at the agency before 2025. Given the challenges the field of public health faces, he aims to celebrate the incredible contributions CDC communicators have made. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
Are YOU or someone you know Fired and Thriving? Let us know at info@firedbutfighting.org
SPOON OF THE WEEK
» The Spoon of the Week goes to two anonymous spoons who worked together to support an immigrant family in crisis after an ICE kidnapping in Atlanta, with one spoon documenting the kidnapping and both helping provide critical resources and connections.
» To submit a spoon for a future newsletter, email info@firedbutfighting.org.
SELF CARE
Support Group for CDC Community Members
» East Atlanta Counseling, Active Resistance Counseling, and Amy Robbins Counseling are offering a free support group for CDC Community Members. Register for July 21 or July 28 - both from 12-1pm ET. See flyer for details.
» Check out a new Substack, Public Health Memories, authored by a fellow spoon. Read the first issue, titled Flights.
» 🦭Who doesn’t want to sploot with their emotional support traffic cone? Neil the seal returns to the ocean after "redecorating" Tasmania again
» Happiness Break: A Meditation to Move Through Anger | Greater Good podcast
FIRED BUT FIGHTING IN THE NEWS
» Cyclospora Cases Near 7,000 Nationwide As Officials Investigate A Possible Taco Bell Link | Headlines & Global News
